Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, has arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will remain until Saturday, 12 July 2025, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
The main event is planned for 11 July, when The Duchess will attend an official commemoration at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre – Potočari. At the ceremony, she will read a message from His Majesty King Charles, after which she will lay a wreath in memory of the victims of the genocide. During her stay, The Duchess will also meet with mothers of Srebrenica who have lost their sons, husbands and fathers.
Today, The Duchess will visit the Old Town in Sarajevo, where she will speak to a local peace activist and learn about the role of women in the post-conflict reconciliation process.
She has already met with representatives of the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will also participate in a discussion with survivors of wartime sexual violence – a topic that the Duchess has previously highlighted. Meetings with religious leaders who contribute to reconciliation in society are also planned.
During her visit, the Duchess will also meet with British military personnel serving as part of the NATO mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with NATO and EUFOR ALTHEA commanders, who ensure stability and security in the country.
This will be the Duchess of Edinburgh’s first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a reminder, in March 2021 she participated via video link in a meeting with “Survivor Champions” from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of a British initiative to prevent sexual violence in conflicts.
The last visit by a member of the British Royal Family took place in July 2015, when Princess Anne attended the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, the British Embassy in BiH announced.
Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić received Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh
Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić welcomed Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh and thanked her for the visit, which pays special attention to the 30th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks in the “UN Safe Zone” of Srebrenica.
Gratitude was expressed to the government and the royal family of the United Kingdom for the continued interest and support they provide to Bosnia and Herzegovina. A special thanks was given on the occasion of the presence of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh at tomorrow’s commemoration of the anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, and the solidarity that is also expressed in this way.
The Duchess of Edinburgh conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Charles III, whose message she will read at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks in the “UN Safe Zone” of Srebrenica.
She pointed out that in the United Kingdom, great importance is attached to the commemoration of the anniversary of the genocide victims.
The duchess, who is also an advocate of the Initiative for the Prevention of Sexual Violence in the Conflict, said that tomorrow she would speak with the families and victims in Srebrenica, and emphasized the importance of this issue through direct support for survivors and advocacy of the issue on a global level.
The topic of the meeting was bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Kingdom, which were rated as very good and friendly.
